If you were one of the world’s most beloved, bankable, all-action heroes, what would you do with your free time? Well, if you’re Keanu Reeves, you’d hit the road with your garage rock band.
Dogstar's Return to the Stage
Originally formed the same year as his cult slacker rock comedy Bill And Ted’s Bogus Journey hit cinemas, Dogstar went on to release two albums (1996’s Our Little Visionary and 2000’s Happy Ending) before the band went on hiatus shortly after The Matrix made Reeves one of the most famous men in Hollywood. However, the three friends and actors (Reeves, drummer Robert Mailhouse and vocalist/guitarist Bret Domrose) would still meet up to play music together whenever they could. When COVID hit, that occasional evening hang turned into day-long jam sessions which laid the foundations for third album Somewhere Between The Power Lines And Palm Trees and a lengthy world tour.
Even though Dogstar had been gone such a long time that those first two records were “lost media” (they still don’t know who owns the right to get them on streaming services), the band’s cult status, their searing take on rock & roll and a little silver screen legend meant the comeback was a success. Last month, they released their excellent fourth album All In Now. On Saturday night, they played the second gig of a year-long jaunt at The Roundhouse ahead of drawing a monstrously huge crowd at Download Festival.
A Night of New Music
“It’s always a special night for any band getting to play here” said Domrose while he looked out at the packed London venue just before the lush Everything Turns Around. Wanting to focus on the now, the band didn’t play anything pre-2023 and new album All In Now was performed in full. A smart move. More urgent, more colourful and with more to say for itself, the record takes their melodic rock to bold new places. The dreamy beauty of Siren, the political fury of What Is and the undeniable funk of Math really came alive onstage. Think Bon Jovi meets Joy Division. See, despite coming up at the height of grunge, Dogstar were never part of that scene and 35 years later, the band are still on the outside of what’s happening in rock. They’re better for it. There were no genre-splicing production tricks, just well-crafted songwriting, technical prowess and incredible chemistry. It might not be fashionable, but their gritty alt-rock was utterly enthralling.
Not a Vanity Project
It’s also painfully obvious that Dogstar isn't a vanity project for Reeves. Heck, he wasn’t even given his own microphone. The bassist looked unsure when he clocked a guy dressed like Neo on the front row and the solitary scream of “go on John Wick” was ignored, but Reeves clearly adores playing music with his mates. The crowd were just as into it, from the soaring groove of All In Now to the U2-inspired hammer of This Sphere. “We’re very blessed to have met up with each other and become the brothers that none of us ever had” explained Domrose to audible “awhs” from the crowd.
Sure, the band might not be as flamboyant as Bill and Ted’s hair-raising Wyld Stallyns and Dogstar’s musical ambitions are probably more ‘have a nice time’ than ‘save the universe’ but the gig was most triumphant. If he does ever want to quit his day job…
